Government denies it recruited a foreigner to head revenue body

File photo: Eugene Torero (New Times)

South Sudan’s government denied reports that a Rwandan national has been appointed Director General of South Sudan Revenue Authority.

South Sudan’s government denied reports that a Rwandan national has been appointed Director General of South Sudan Revenue Authority.

South Sudan’s presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, told Radio Tamazui yesterday that Eugene Torero was not appointed to head the revenue Authority.

However, Ateny defended the appointment of a foreign national as the Director General of the revenue collection body, saying a foreigner can be tasked with assessing and collecting revenues according to the country’s law.

Separately, Ministry of Finance and Planning has issued a statement denying the recruitment of Eugene Torero to head South Sudan Revenue Authority.

“What were approved by TNLA on Monday, September, 25, 2017 were the loans from AfDB including the funding for the position of Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, and not details of the person recruited to this very key institution,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

The ministry further said the recruitment process is not yet finalized, pointing out that the vacancy was open to nationals and foreigners. “The best candidates were shortlisted and interviewed and the ministry and AfDB are now in final stages of the recruitment process, which would be finalized in a matter of weeks,” it said.